<p>The Edmonton Oilers went 2-1-0 last week and could have swept all three games if they hadn’t started the game flat against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 9. Still, even Stanley Cup-contending teams have their off night, and that game was just one of them.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The Oilers leaned on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to help pull them back into the game against the Penguins, but every winning team knows you need contributions from up and down the lineup. That said, the Oilers&#8217; depth players played a crucial role in the comeback victory two nights later against the Chicago Blackhawks and below, we highlight two of those depth players in this edition of the Oilers&#8217; Three Stars of the Week.</p>
<h2>Oilers’ 3rd Star: Adam Henrique</h2>
<p><strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 3 G – 0 A – 3 Pts<br />
Season Stats – 42 GP – 6 G – 7 A – 13 Pts</strong></p>
<p>Oilers <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/stuart-skinner-was-sensational-adam-henrique-buried-two-and-is-jeff-skinner-heating-up-for-the-oilers">centerman Adam Henrique caught fire last week</a>, scoring 50% of his season’s goal total in just three games, a performance that earned him the third spot on the Oilers’ Three Stars of the Week.</p>
<p>Henrique played one of his best games in an Oilers uniform on Jan. 7 against the Boston Bruins, showing off his keen hockey IQ and excellent reads off his teammates. He crept into the slot <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-40-0-oilers-flip-the-script-on-the-bruins-as-henrique-and-both-skinners-shine">to fire home two goals past Jeremy Swayman</a>—one off a setup from Corey Perry and the other from a slick feed by Jeff Skinner, both set up from behind the net. Additionally, the man they call ‘Rico’ dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 80% of his draws.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="ht" dir="ltr">EDM BOS G40. January 7, 2025. Adam Henrique goal. 3-0 EDM. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/Z1kiTTp7Aq">pic.twitter.com/Z1kiTTp7Aq</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1876804461097521415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Oilers came out flat when they visited the Penguins two nights later in a loss, with Henrique playing with a combination of Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, and Skinner as his wingers. He didn’t record any points but was superb in the faceoff circle again, winning 71% of his draws.</p>
<p>The centerman started the game alongside Janmark and Brown in the Oilers&#8217; next matchup against the Blackhawks. Later in the game, Brown was swapped out for Vasily Podkolzin, and the line struck late in the second period with the Oilers trailing 3-1. Podkolzin sent a cross-ice feed to Ty Emberson, who fired a hard shot toward the net, and Henrique <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-overcome-slow-start-to-win-ugly-against-blackhawks">made a perfect deflection past Arvid Soderblom</a> for his third goal in three games.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Rico redirect 🤌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoOilers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoOilers</a> <a href="https://t.co/K3QwvxctTx">pic.twitter.com/K3QwvxctTx</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1878256278310658330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Hands down, last week was Henrique’s best stretch of games this season after a slow start offensively. The Oilers are hoping this productive version of the 34-year-old is here to stay. If he can maintain this level of play—or something close to it—it would ease any potential concerns about finding a third-line center for the playoffs and allow the team to focus on other needs, like adding a top-four D-man.</p>
<h2>Oilers’ 2nd Star: Connor McDavid</h2>
<p><strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 1 G – 3 A – 4 Pts</strong><br />
<strong>Season Stats – 39 GP – 16 G – 42 A – 58 Pts</strong></p>
<p>After going pointless in two games, McDavid came out looking like a man on a mission against the Bruins, attacking early and creating chances. Had it not been for Swayman making some big stops, the Oilers’ captain likely would’ve had a few points on the night. Still, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-roll-into-beantown-to-beat-bruins-4-0">he managed to beat the Bruins’ netminder once</a>, finishing off a breakaway after a beautiful feed from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with McDavid’s muscle memory kicking in as he wowed with a mesmerizing flurry of dekes to score his first goal in nine games.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM BOS G40. January 7, 2025. Connor McDavid goal. 2-0 EDM. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/LrINM6k20f">pic.twitter.com/LrINM6k20f</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1876801626003976398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Additionally, the Oilers&#8217; superstar had his family in attendance against the Penguins on Jan. 9, as he was set to have his jersey retired with the Erie Otters the following night. With the McDavid clan present, the captain did his best to try and get his team back in the game, factoring in on all three of the Oilers&#8217; goals and earning three assists, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilersnation-radio-the-oilers-stunk-in-pittsburgh-evander-kane-got-another-surgery-and-trade-rumours">despite the 5-3 loss</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, McDavid went pointless two nights later against the Blackhawks. Still, he led all Oilers forwards in ice time (21:49), won 64% of his faceoffs, and had a 7-3 edge in high-danger scoring chances at 5v5. We&#8217;ll also cut him some slack, as he had a big night just 24 hours earlier, when <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/erie-otters-of-ohl-to-retire-connor-mcdavids-number">the Erie Otters retired his jersey</a> and hung his #97 to the rafters.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Thank you to all of you &#8211; the fans&#8230;You guys make it all worth it&quot;</p>
<p>Take a listen to what <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdmontonOilers</a> captain Connor McDavid had to say about his time as a member of the <a href="https://twitter.com/ErieOtters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ErieOtters</a> on his jersey retirement night 🎥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OHL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CHLHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CHLHockey</a> <a href="https://t.co/mfLoklDxEZ">pic.twitter.com/mfLoklDxEZ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1877883746868678849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Just touching on that for a moment, I’d imagine it felt slightly surreal for McDavid that it&#8217;s already been 10 years since he last played in Erie—time really does fly. Moments like this serve as a reminder that one day, McDavid’s #97 will hang in the rafters at Rogers Place alongside many former Oilers greats. It’s a reminder, too, as he works his magic night after night, to truly appreciate how special it is to be watching the Oilers’ captain right now, in his prime.</p>
<h2><strong>Oilers&#8217; 1st Star: </strong>Leon Draisaitl</h2>
<p><strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 2 G – 2 A – 4 Pts</strong><br />
<strong>Season Stats – 42 GP – 31 G – 32 A – 63 Pts</strong></p>
<p>Unfortunately, Draisaitl’s 14-game point streak came to an end against the Bruins, but he still led all Oilers forwards in ice time (20:07) and won 73% of his faceoffs. Two nights later, he fired seven shots on net against the Pittsburgh Penguins and could’ve had at least a few goals if not for some stellar netminding by Alex Nedeljkovic.</p>
<p>That said, when the Oilers dug themselves a hole against the Pens, McDavid and Draisaitl were reunited, and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-disastrous-first-period-lost-them-the-game-goaltending-vs-mistakes-and-at-least-leon-draisaitl-scored-again">the Cologne, Germany native scored his 30th and 31st goals</a> of the season. He nearly added another with just a few minutes left, as the puck almost trickled across the line on a night when the big centerman played the most minutes of any Oiler—a whopping 27:19 minutes, in the loss.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM PIT G41. January 9, 2025. Leon Draisaitl goal. 5-2 PIT. 🎥: Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/T18dR2vNJ6">pic.twitter.com/T18dR2vNJ6</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1877527474998837480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>In addition, the Oilers found themselves trailing again after the first period two nights later against the Blackhawks, but they mounted a comeback, starting with Draisaitl’s line just 20 seconds into the second period. Draisaitl feathered a cross-ice pass to Arvidsson, who centered it to Podkolzin, and the latter dropped to one knee to bury his fifth of the season.</p>
<p>After Perry tied the game 3-3, the Oilers went on the power play, where Draisaitl went to work, methodically slowing the play before firing the puck on net. Zach Hyman <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-42-0-youve-got-to-find-many-ways-to-win">picked up the rebound and potted his 14th</a> of the season, with Draisaitl assisting on that game-winner.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Comeback win(d) 😮‍💨 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoOilers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoOilers</a> <a href="https://t.co/kE9skSGQtk">pic.twitter.com/kE9skSGQtk</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1878294919560966304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Moreover, on a night when the headlines were all about Connor vs. Connor heading into the game, both went pointless. However, this season’s <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/why-leon-draisaitl-should-be-in-hart-trophy-talks-ryan-nugent-hopkins-heats-up-and-the-oilers-almost-blew-it-against-the-ducks">potential Hart Trophy candidate</a>, Draisaitl, finished with a two-point night, and with that, the league’s leading goal scorer is now just five points behind Nathan MacKinnon for the lead in points.</p>
<h2>Honourable Mention: Corey Perry</h2>
<p><strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 1 G – 1 A – 2 Pts<br />
Season Stats – 41 GP – 7 G – 7 A – 14 Pts</strong></p>
<p>The 39-year-old <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-five-oilers-fights-of-the-year-5-corey-perry-fights-joe-veleno">Corey Perry</a> earned the Oilers&#8217; honourable mention for last week after putting up a couple of points and getting into a tilt with a player 13 years younger than him.</p>
<p>The former Hart Trophy winner showed he still has the smarts and hands, displaying great patience against the Bruins as he held the puck behind the net before finding Henrique in the slot, who quickly fired a shot, with Perry earning the assist.</p>
<p>Later in the game, Perry proved why he&#8217;s the master of gamesmanship, baiting Bruins forward <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/trent-frederic/2662">Trent Frederic</a> into a fight. While the 26-year-old landed more punches, Perry won the chess match by drawing an extra penalty. Frederic received an additional two minutes, and the Oilers capitalized, scoring on the ensuing PP.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Corey Perry was boo’d hard when the game tying goal was announced. </p>
<p>The fact that he played for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blackhawks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blackhawks</a> at all feels like a glitch in the matrix  <a href="https://t.co/vfLPujvThM">pic.twitter.com/vfLPujvThM</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinnieParise/status/1878257729061425487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Additionally, when the Oilers were pressing for the equalizer two nights later against the Blackhawks, Kasperi Kapanen found an open Perry after some good work along the boards. The 39-year-old then found himself with time and space in front, wristing the puck past Soderblom for a huge goal to tie the game, setting the stage for a 4-3 Oilers win.</p>
<p>All in all, the 21-year NHL veteran may average one of the lowest ice times on the team (11:12), but whether it&#8217;s getting a glove in an opponent&#8217;s face, delivering a well-timed chirp, dropping the mitts, or finding his way onto the score sheet, &#8216;the Worm&#8217; consistently proves his ability to be highly effective in those limited minutes.</p>

The Edmonton Oilers went 2-1-0 last week and could have swept all three games if they hadn’t started the game flat against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 9. Still, even Stanley Cup-contending teams have their off night, and that game was just one of them.



The Oilers leaned on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to help pull them back into the game against the Penguins, but every winning team knows you need contributions from up and down the lineup. That said, the Oilers' depth players played a crucial role in the comeback victory two nights later against the Chicago Blackhawks and below, we highlight two of those depth players in this edition of the Oilers' Three Stars of the Week.
<h2>Oilers’ 3rd Star: Adam Henrique</h2>
<strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 3 G – 0 A – 3 Pts
Season Stats – 42 GP – 6 G – 7 A – 13 Pts</strong>

Oilers <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/stuart-skinner-was-sensational-adam-henrique-buried-two-and-is-jeff-skinner-heating-up-for-the-oilers">centerman Adam Henrique caught fire last week</a>, scoring 50% of his season’s goal total in just three games, a performance that earned him the third spot on the Oilers’ Three Stars of the Week.

Henrique played one of his best games in an Oilers uniform on Jan. 7 against the Boston Bruins, showing off his keen hockey IQ and excellent reads off his teammates. He crept into the slot <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-40-0-oilers-flip-the-script-on-the-bruins-as-henrique-and-both-skinners-shine">to fire home two goals past Jeremy Swayman</a>—one off a setup from Corey Perry and the other from a slick feed by Jeff Skinner, both set up from behind the net. Additionally, the man they call ‘Rico’ dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 80% of his draws.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1876804461097521415

The Oilers came out flat when they visited the Penguins two nights later in a loss, with Henrique playing with a combination of Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, and Skinner as his wingers. He didn’t record any points but was superb in the faceoff circle again, winning 71% of his draws.

The centerman started the game alongside Janmark and Brown in the Oilers' next matchup against the Blackhawks. Later in the game, Brown was swapped out for Vasily Podkolzin, and the line struck late in the second period with the Oilers trailing 3-1. Podkolzin sent a cross-ice feed to Ty Emberson, who fired a hard shot toward the net, and Henrique <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-overcome-slow-start-to-win-ugly-against-blackhawks">made a perfect deflection past Arvid Soderblom</a> for his third goal in three games.

https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1878256278310658330

Hands down, last week was Henrique’s best stretch of games this season after a slow start offensively. The Oilers are hoping this productive version of the 34-year-old is here to stay. If he can maintain this level of play—or something close to it—it would ease any potential concerns about finding a third-line center for the playoffs and allow the team to focus on other needs, like adding a top-four D-man.
<h2>Oilers’ 2nd Star: Connor McDavid</h2>
<strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 1 G – 3 A – 4 Pts</strong>
<strong>Season Stats – 39 GP – 16 G – 42 A – 58 Pts</strong>

After going pointless in two games, McDavid came out looking like a man on a mission against the Bruins, attacking early and creating chances. Had it not been for Swayman making some big stops, the Oilers’ captain likely would’ve had a few points on the night. Still, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-oilers-roll-into-beantown-to-beat-bruins-4-0">he managed to beat the Bruins’ netminder once</a>, finishing off a breakaway after a beautiful feed from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with McDavid’s muscle memory kicking in as he wowed with a mesmerizing flurry of dekes to score his first goal in nine games.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1876801626003976398

Additionally, the Oilers' superstar had his family in attendance against the Penguins on Jan. 9, as he was set to have his jersey retired with the Erie Otters the following night. With the McDavid clan present, the captain did his best to try and get his team back in the game, factoring in on all three of the Oilers' goals and earning three assists, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilersnation-radio-the-oilers-stunk-in-pittsburgh-evander-kane-got-another-surgery-and-trade-rumours">despite the 5-3 loss</a>.

Unfortunately, McDavid went pointless two nights later against the Blackhawks. Still, he led all Oilers forwards in ice time (21:49), won 64% of his faceoffs, and had a 7-3 edge in high-danger scoring chances at 5v5. We'll also cut him some slack, as he had a big night just 24 hours earlier, when <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/erie-otters-of-ohl-to-retire-connor-mcdavids-number">the Erie Otters retired his jersey</a> and hung his #97 to the rafters.

https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1877883746868678849

Just touching on that for a moment, I’d imagine it felt slightly surreal for McDavid that it's already been 10 years since he last played in Erie—time really does fly. Moments like this serve as a reminder that one day, McDavid’s #97 will hang in the rafters at Rogers Place alongside many former Oilers greats. It’s a reminder, too, as he works his magic night after night, to truly appreciate how special it is to be watching the Oilers’ captain right now, in his prime.
<h2><strong>Oilers' 1st Star: </strong>Leon Draisaitl</h2>
<strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 2 G – 2 A – 4 Pts</strong>
<strong>Season Stats – 42 GP – 31 G – 32 A – 63 Pts</strong>

Unfortunately, Draisaitl’s 14-game point streak came to an end against the Bruins, but he still led all Oilers forwards in ice time (20:07) and won 73% of his faceoffs. Two nights later, he fired seven shots on net against the Pittsburgh Penguins and could’ve had at least a few goals if not for some stellar netminding by Alex Nedeljkovic.

That said, when the Oilers dug themselves a hole against the Pens, McDavid and Draisaitl were reunited, and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-disastrous-first-period-lost-them-the-game-goaltending-vs-mistakes-and-at-least-leon-draisaitl-scored-again">the Cologne, Germany native scored his 30th and 31st goals</a> of the season. He nearly added another with just a few minutes left, as the puck almost trickled across the line on a night when the big centerman played the most minutes of any Oiler—a whopping 27:19 minutes, in the loss.

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1877527474998837480

In addition, the Oilers found themselves trailing again after the first period two nights later against the Blackhawks, but they mounted a comeback, starting with Draisaitl’s line just 20 seconds into the second period. Draisaitl feathered a cross-ice pass to Arvidsson, who centered it to Podkolzin, and the latter dropped to one knee to bury his fifth of the season.

After Perry tied the game 3-3, the Oilers went on the power play, where Draisaitl went to work, methodically slowing the play before firing the puck on net. Zach Hyman <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/the-day-after-42-0-youve-got-to-find-many-ways-to-win">picked up the rebound and potted his 14th</a> of the season, with Draisaitl assisting on that game-winner.

https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1878294919560966304

Moreover, on a night when the headlines were all about Connor vs. Connor heading into the game, both went pointless. However, this season’s <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/why-leon-draisaitl-should-be-in-hart-trophy-talks-ryan-nugent-hopkins-heats-up-and-the-oilers-almost-blew-it-against-the-ducks">potential Hart Trophy candidate</a>, Draisaitl, finished with a two-point night, and with that, the league’s leading goal scorer is now just five points behind Nathan MacKinnon for the lead in points.
<h2>Honourable Mention: Corey Perry</h2>
<strong>Last Week’s Stats – 3 GP – 1 G – 1 A – 2 Pts
Season Stats – 41 GP – 7 G – 7 A – 14 Pts</strong>

The 39-year-old <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/top-five-oilers-fights-of-the-year-5-corey-perry-fights-joe-veleno">Corey Perry</a> earned the Oilers' honourable mention for last week after putting up a couple of points and getting into a tilt with a player 13 years younger than him.

The former Hart Trophy winner showed he still has the smarts and hands, displaying great patience against the Bruins as he held the puck behind the net before finding Henrique in the slot, who quickly fired a shot, with Perry earning the assist.

Later in the game, Perry proved why he's the master of gamesmanship, baiting Bruins forward <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/trent-frederic/2662">Trent Frederic</a> into a fight. While the 26-year-old landed more punches, Perry won the chess match by drawing an extra penalty. Frederic received an additional two minutes, and the Oilers capitalized, scoring on the ensuing PP.

https://twitter.com/VinnieParise/status/1878257729061425487

Additionally, when the Oilers were pressing for the equalizer two nights later against the Blackhawks, Kasperi Kapanen found an open Perry after some good work along the boards. The 39-year-old then found himself with time and space in front, wristing the puck past Soderblom for a huge goal to tie the game, setting the stage for a 4-3 Oilers win.

All in all, the 21-year NHL veteran may average one of the lowest ice times on the team (11:12), but whether it's getting a glove in an opponent's face, delivering a well-timed chirp, dropping the mitts, or finding his way onto the score sheet, 'the Worm' consistently proves his ability to be highly effective in those limited minutes.

Oilers’ 3 Stars of the Week: Henrique finds his scoring touch, while Draisaitl stays atop the scoring race

Edmonton Oilers celebrate Connor McDavid goal

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